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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Welcome back, Jamice. So good to have you again. I know you
speak at various conferences and meetings. What do you have coming up in 2012?

Strangely,
I haven’t scheduled many speaking engagements in 2012. I will be serving as a
mentor at the ACFW conference, but my speaking calendar is fairly empty! These
days I’m spending much of my time with online e-book sales. I’m also very
focused on my deadlines, so I stay plenty busy. As much as I love speaking and
teaching, it’s kind of nice to pull back once in a while.

If you were
planning a women’s retreat, what would be the theme for it?

Oh,
that’s easy! I’d call it “Lighten Up!” and we would spend the entire conference
talking about ways to live a light-hearted life. I recently spoke at a women’s
retreat on a similar subject and it went over well with the ladies.

Who would you
want as speakers and why?

In
my dream world, I would ask folks like Liz Curtis Higgs and (local Houston KSBJ
deejay) Susan O’Donnell. Both are a hoot, but both also know how to pack at
punch.

Where would
you hold the retreat and why?

Galveston, girl! I
recently stayed at a fabulous resort there called the Diamond Beach resort.
Perfect spot for a retreat. The condos are awesome and the meeting rooms are
nice, too. Most of the rooms have Oceanside views, and they’re lovely because
they also look out on the pools. (I will attach a photo.)

Sign me up for that. I love Galveston. Do you read
print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two?

These
days most of my reading is on the Kindle. I find it easier to hold and it’s
easy on my eyes, as well. I love the ease of reading on an e-device, so I think
we can safely say I’ve been pulled over to the dark side!

I love my
Kindle for when I’m away from home. I’ve read a lot more books since I have
one, but at home, I like holding a real book. That’s an interesting title. How
did you come up with it?

Love Finds You
in Daisy Oklahoma is part of the “Love Finds You” series from
Summerside/Guideposts. I was assigned the town of Daisy. My mom and I drove up
to Daisy a year and a half ago and had a wonderful time taking photos of the
area.

So what is the
book about?

Here’s
the official synopsis:

Love
blooms in unlikely places. In 1912, two years after a tornado left many
children homeless, the town of Daisy, Oklahoma, needs help with its orphanage.
Enter Rena Jewel, 38 years old and still single, who longs to do something
important with her life. A lover of flowers, Rena believes the letter from
Daisy to be a sign from the Lord, and she promises to help. Sheriff Gene Wyatt
is a widowed father struggling to control 23 unruly orphans—and to keep his own
two boys from burning down the town. So when he receives word that help is on
the way, Gene rejoices. Until he meets Rena, that is—a genteel and far too
pretty woman whom he assumes is not up to the challenge. And after meeting the
children, Rena begins to agree with him! At her wits’ end, she helps the
children plant a garden and slowly earns their respect and obedience. The new
orphanage director arrives just as the garden begins to bloom, and Rena must
decide whether she can leave the town, the children—and the man—she’s come to
love.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Daisy, Oklahoma, 1912

The
AtokaCounty jail housed no prisoners that
Monday morning, unless one counted the local Sheriff. After the verbal
thrashing he’d just received from Molly Harris, Gene felt like hiding out in
one of the cells for the rest of the day.

He
pulled off his Stetson and hurled it at the hat rack. “Crazy busybody. Who does
she think she is, anyway?”

For
a moment, he wondered what it would feel like to toss the town’s crankiest
senior citizen into an empty cell and throw away the key. Wouldn’t that make a
great article for the Atoka County
Register? He could almost picture the headline now: Local Woman Rethinks Her Meddling Ways from Behind Bars.
Surely the other residents of Daisy would back him up.

On
the other hand, they might turn on him. Stranger things had happened of late.
Folks who had once claimed to be his friends had turned a cold shoulder to him
after hearing Molly’s repeated tirades about his boys. Many seemed to share her
concerns.

Releasing
a slow breath, Gene tried to calm down. Unfortunately, Molly’s words weren’t
easy to shake off. They’d stung, worse than he cared to admit, but what could
he do? His hands were already too full, what with raising the boys alone.

He
made his way back to his dreary office, eased his way down into the chair
behind his messy desk, and began to thumb through the mail, which he’d just
fetched from the postmaster. Minutes later, he still found himself mulling over
the elderly woman’s criticism of his two sons. Sure, William and Jacob were a
handful—no denying that—but did she really have to call them hooligans? They
were only ten and eight, after all. Far too young to be accused of such
nonsense. And that comment about how they might one day end up serving time was
way out of line.

He
paused to think it through. The way things were headed they might very well end
up going down the wrong road. If only they still had a mother to guide them,
then maybe. . .

No,
he wouldn’t think like that. The two years since Brenda’s death had been
dreadful, but the pain of losing her lessened more with each passing day. No
point in resurrecting it. The boys would be fine. He would see to it, if it was
the last thing he did. In the meantime, he had work to do, and plenty of it.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

God has really been
moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Hopefully more contracts J I’m currently in the
middle of a four-book contract finishing up book three. When it is complete
I’ll immediately begin work on the final book and then begin the process of
seeking another contract. God has blessed me beyond belief so far with the
opportunity to continue writing and do some projects that came about
unexpectedly (like the 7 Hours project with six other authors). I don’t take
for granted for one minute what He has done for me and allowed me to do.

Tell us a little
about your family.

My wife and I will celebrate fifteen years of marriage in
June and we have four daughters ranging from thirteen to one year old. The
oldest three are homeschooled and my wife does a wonderful job with that. We
live in a small town in Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. We love
spending time as a family, picnicking, exploring, and just goofing off
together.

Has your writing
changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Well, for one, I have less time to read. I usually read at
night before going to bed but I have such a difficult time staying awake. But
since my writing has taken a turn for the serious, I read more now to learn
than for pleasure. I choose books that I know will advance my own craft and
read with an eye toward how the author writes the story, the prose, the
dialogue, the pacing, suspense, character development. All of it.

What are you working
on right now?

I’m finishing up my next suspense novel, The Prodigy, which will release in
February of 2013. I’ve been working furiously on this story to get it finished
by deadline and am pleased with some of the turns it’s taken. I think my
readership will very much enjoy it and be intrigued by the twists and turns the
story takes.

What outside
interests do you have?

Boy, not many because at this point in life I really just
don’t have time for outside interests. I like being outside, taking walks,
hiking, that sort of thing. I enjoy reading when I can stay awake. My wife and
I are hooked on BBC shows like Lark Rise
to Candleford and Cranford.

How do you choose
your settings for each book?

Well, up until my last novel they’ve all been set in the
general area of where I live, southern Pennsylvania
or northern Maryland.
Then I set my last book, Frantic, in Maine. I love my local region because it’s a
very rich area, not just in history but in geography. Lots of rolling hills, wooded
land, farmland, small towns, back roads. But favorite place is Maine. We’ve vacationed
there several times and my wife lived there as a child. I can’t get enough of
it. The contrast at the coast between the huge boulders and jagged rocks and
pine trees and the ocean. Small coastal lobstering communities, lighthouses,
lots and lots of forest. Can’t beat it and such a neat place to set a suspense
story.

If you could spend an
evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

Thomas Jefferson. He seems like he’d be such a genuine and
thoughtful person, intelligent, courageous, dedicated. I could learn a lot from
and glean a lot of inspiration.

What is the one thing
you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

How much time you spent doing it and how hard it was to
establish yourself in the industry. There are so many authors out there it’s
hard to get noticed by readers. It seems most people have the handful of
favorite authors and are reluctant to try new writers. I know I may be stepping
on some toes here but I’m not alone in my sentiments. Authors are like
restaurants, people have their favorites and when they have money to spend they
want to stick with what they know and love.

What new lessons is
the Lord teaching you right now?

Trust. I have such a tendency to want to manipulate my
writing and career, to try to over-manage it, force it this way or that way,
instead of just doing my best to write a great story, doing my best to promote
it and let people know about it, then getting out of the way and letting God
doing His thing.

What are the three
best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Franticis the story of a trio of characters on a harried and
dangerous journey to discover what it means to really trust. Marny Toogood has
lived under a “curse” his entire life and has therefore avoided much contact
with people. That is, until he receives a desperate plea for help from Esther
Rose, the over-protective sister of William, a boy with cerebral palsy and a
very special gift. All three find themselves on the run from Esther and
William’s maniacal and possessive “uncle” and wind up somewhere much more
dangerous.

Here’s the back cover copy:

Can a deranged serial killer be stopped before it’s too
late?

For gas station attendant Marny Toogood it s just another
day on the job when an urgent message from a young girl in the backseat of a
car draws him into a daring rescue attempt. Now on the run with the girl and
her brother, Marny begins to realize he must conquer his own past and surrender
all to Christ.

As they face kidnapping, underground cults, and other evils,
can Marny trust the simple faith of a child and stand his ground against a
power so twisted?

Please give us the
first page of the book.

The night Marny Toogood was born it rained axheads and
hammer handles.

His grandfather made a prediction, said it was an omen of
some sort, that it meant Marny's life would be stormy, full of rain clouds and
lightning strikes. Wanting to prove her father wrong, Janie Toogood named her
son Marnin, which means "one who brings joy," instead of the Mitchell
she and her husband had agreed on.

But in spite of Janie's good intentions, and regardless of
what his birth certificate said, Marny's grandfather was right.

At the exact time Marny was delivered into this world and
his grandfather was portending a dark future, Marny's father was en route to
the hospital from his job at Winden's Furniture Factory where he was stuck
working the graveyard shift. He'd gotten the phone call that Janie was in
labor, dropped his hammer, and run out of the plant. Fifteen minutes from the
hospital his pickup hit standing water, hydroplaned, and tumbled down a steep
embankment, landing in a stand of eastern white pines. The coroner said he
experienced a quick death; he did not suffer.

One week after Marny's birth his grandfather died of a heart
attack. He didn't suffer either.

Twenty-six years and a couple of lifetimes of hurt later,
Marny found himself working at Condon's Gas ’n Go and living above the garage
in a small studio apartment George Condon rented to him for two hundred bucks a
month. It was nothing special, but it was a place to lay his head at night and
dream about the dark cloud that stalked him.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Frantic - paperbackFrantic - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Welcome back, Martha. As an author, I know
it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in
the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

This book came about as the fourth in a series that I
proposed to Debbie Marrie, acquisitions editor at Charisma Media. After I had
the story written it went to another editor, Lori Vanden Bosch. She had some
ideas for the story and together we worked on it to bring the story to its
final form. Deborah Moss read it then and had a few questions that helped
clarify a few points. Atalie Anderson sent me the cover and with a few minor
changes, we had the beautiful cover that you will see today. Usually I have a
critique partner or two read over the manuscript, but there was no time for
that with this book. Getting a book from the story idea to final publication
involves so many people, and so far my experiences have been very good.

If you teach or
speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I recently spoke at the Tulsa ACFW group and I will be
teaching two workshops at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in Houston on August 4. After
that I will be speaking to a women’s group at First Baptist Church of Houston
in October.

If you had to
completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

If you mean at birth, I wouldn’t really want to be another
place. I loved Dallas, Texas, where I grew up and graduated from high
school. If you mean starting over later in life, I would have enjoyed living in
the country on a ranch somewhere in Texas.

If you could only
tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

All aspiring writers must have patience and learn to wait.
We wait on responses from editors and/or agents. We wait on return of
critiques. Most importantly of all, we wait for God’s perfect timing. He is
always on schedule, and most of the time it doesn’t fit ours.

You’ve been asked to
be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why?
(AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

This is a toughie as I don’t know any of the celebrities
from today because I just don’t pay that much attention to them, and we don’t
go to movies. However, if I could plan a Christian cruise, I would invite Point
of Grace and Steve Green to provide music, and Christian comedian Mark Lowry to
entertain us with his wonderful stories.

I’d love to be on
that cruise with you. Tell us about the featured book.

Spring Hopeis a
story of forgiveness that parallels my own with my brother. Learning to forgive
someone of a lifestyle or crimes that go against everything one has ever
believed and taught is one of the most difficult things to do for a Christian,
especially when that person is someone close to us. Cody Muldoon must learn
that lesson and my agony became his as he wrestled with God about what he had
to do.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Porterfield, Texas

February, 1891

Chapter 1

The coldest
night of winter thus far chilled Deputy Sheriff Cory Muldoon to the bone as he
made his rounds in the alleyways of Porterfield. Cold wind howled around the
corners of the buildings now closed up for the night. Most everyone in
Porterfield had gone home to their families and warm homes. This was all the
winter he cared to experience, and even this would be only a few days as the
weather in Texas
could change in a heartbeat, summer or winter.

Lights and
music from the saloon rang out and mocked the dark silence of its neighboring
buildings. Friday nights found cowboys and lumberjacks both squandering their
hard-earned money on liquor and women. Tonight would be no different despite
the cold, near freezing temperatures. Most likely at least one or two of them
would end up in the jail for a spell.

Cory turned up
the collar of his sheepskin-lined jacket and shoved his hat farther down on his
head. When he rounded the corner of the livery, the gentle nickering and snorts
of the horses boarded there broke the quietness of the night.

A cat skittered
out from behind the general store, and a dog barked in the distance. Ever since
the bank robbery last fall, he or the sheriff had roamed the alleys behind the
main businesses every night to make sure everything remained locked tight and
secure. So far, he’d seen only a typical Friday night with everything as
routine as Aunt Mae’s boardinghouse meal schedule. Of course being Friday the
thirteenth, anything could happen.

They already
had two men put up for the night back at the jail. Sheriff Rutherford took the
night duty to keep the jail cells warm so Cory could have Saturday off for his
Aunt Mae’s wedding. Ole Cooter probably got drunk and disorderly just so he’d
have a warm place to sleep tonight and not have to go out to his shack. Cory
held no blame on the man for that. Durand, the saloon owner, caught the other
man cheating at cards and had him arrested. Maybe the card shark would move his
game on to some other town.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Monday, May 28, 2012

I love the time period. And because I’ve worked in the
mental health field for 32 years I’m fascinated by the human mind and illness.
Why we do the things we do is pretty much the same in the Regency as it is
today.

Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

The day I married my husband. We’re still married 32 years
later.

How has being
published changed your life?

The crazy aspect.

I used to think I was busy. J Now I know I am.
Writing a series is a challenge. Writing
and editing and marketing and blogging and everything thing else that comes
with publication has changed my life. Spending time with family and friends has
become more challenging. I work full-time as a counselor 10 months a year.

The fun aspect.

I get to see how publishing works up close. Even though I’ve
studied the craft for 22 years there’s so much I didn’t know. Publishing is
like earning a whole new degree. I’ve worked with 2 different editors so far
and learned a lot from both.

If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

J.K. Rowling. Because she’s an incredible British novelist
and she lives in Scotland.
I would want to meet with her at her place. J

What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Word find puzzles.

What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Finding the hours in the day to do my very best writing. I
never find them so I write in snatches of time. Lunch time, after dinner, late
at night. Anytime I can find time.

What advice would you
give to a beginning author?

Don’t work on one book forever. Finish it and write another
one. You’ll want as much product and experience as you can get when you get
published.

Tell us about the
featured book.

How much can you really know about someone?

Lady Victoria Grayson has always considered herself a keen
observer of human behavior. After battling a chronic childhood illness that
kept her homebound for years, she journeys to London determined to have the adventure of a
lifetime.

Jaded by his wartime profession as a spy, Lord Witt understands, more than
most, that everyone is not always who they pretend to be. He meets Victoria after the
Regent requests an investigation into the activities of her physician brother,
Lord Ravensmoore.

Witt and Victoria become increasingly entangled in a plot targeting the lords
of Parliament. Victoria
is forced to question how well she knows those close to her while challenging
Witt’s cynical nature and doubts about God. Together they must confront their
pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Chapter One

We should come home
from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and
character.

—Henry David Thoreau

London, 29 March 1818

St. James Park loomed in front of them, shrouded in a heavy
mist that created difficulty for horse and driver as the coach and four maneuvered
its way into the park.

Inside the vehicle, Victoria
leaned toward the window, straining to see the outline of trees. “Such a
disappointment,” she sighed. “This is not what I expected my very first morning
in London. I’d
so hoped to see more on the ride through the park, something exciting to tell
Devlin when we get to his home.”

“Don’t despair, my lady.” Nora, her maid, pulled a heavy
shawl tighter about her shoulders. “’Tis sure to be the same mist that abounds
in Yorkshire. This nuisance will lift
eventually. It always does.”

Victoria
patted the sleek head of her dog. “Even Lazarus grows bored.” She marveled at
her best friend, a behemoth of a mastiff, as he lowered his bulk to the floor
of the coach with a loud groan and laid his head across her slipper-covered
feet, creating a comfortable warmth. He’d been with her for years, and she
couldn’t leave him behind. The poor dear would cry himself to sleep every
night.

Victoria
allowed the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves and Nora’s penchant for humming
songs to lull her into a light sleep. Nora’s humming had comforted her all
those years she’d been sick at Ravensmoore. While everyone else lived their
busy lives out around her, she’d done little but survive, taking comfort in the
small things that brought her joy.

A sudden crash caused the coach door to vibrate. Victoria screamed and
bolted upright as Lazarus pressed his nose and giant paws against the carriage
window. A low growl rumbled in his throat.

She grabbed Lazarus by the collar. Heart pounding, she turned
to Nora. “What was that?”

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Welcome, Julie. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your book.

My book is non-fiction so I am as authentic as I possibly
can be. I write honestly about my faults and failures as well as my strengths
and blessings.

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

I used to dress up in a Police Dog bite suit so our local
K-9 officers could train their dogs to search out and detain bad guys.

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

My English teachers in high school and college encouraged me
and winning the Guideposts Writers Workshop contest helped validate their
assessment for me.

Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I like to read everything from my Bible and my favorite
daily devotional My Utmost for His
Highest by Oswald Chambers to scientific papers on health and Herpetology. I
love fiction like the Mitford series by Jan Karon, biographies, business
leadership books by Dave Anderson, anything by Andy Andrews, direct marketing
and sales books, and publications about horses and trail riding.

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

I remember that my life is none of my business and I do all
that I can to be available to do what God would have me do next. My prayer time
and my faith keep me grounded. I don’t worry because I know God is fully aware
of all that is going on in my life and I trust Him. My favorite way to relax is
to go trail riding on my Quarter Horse Kup.

How do you choose
your characters’ names?

Most of the people in my life are characters of one sort or
another…lively and exciting people…but they come with names already in place
since I don’t write fiction. I have been asked on occasion not to use someone’s
real name so I let my reader know if I have substituted a fictitious name.

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my blended family. When my husband Jim
and I married my little girl Amey was almost 7, his boy/girl twins, Jim and
Jenni had just turned 12 and his oldest daughter DeDe was 19. We were blessed
that the children all lived with us and with lots of patience, lots of long
talks, through both tough times and good times, we were able to build a family
unit so strong our children fully accept one another as siblings and the word
“step” never enters anyone’s mind or vocabulary. We have strong family
traditions and the love we all have for one another is as deep and binding as
any traditional family I’ve ever seen. I am immensely proud of our four
children and our twelve grandchildren.

If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?

If I were an animal I wouldn’t be typing out this answer but
I would love to be the white horse on which my Lord Jesus Christ returns in
Revelation 19:11. To assist my King, to see the upturned faces of those who
have waited with faith and hope for His return…I can’t imagine an animal more
blessed than that!

What is your favorite
food?

I consider any good soup that has a chicken or vegetable
based broth and if full of great veggies a favorite.

What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

The only time I get writers block is when I have a deadline.
The way I overcome it is to have my husband write the first few lines. I was the
editor on 27 of my father Zig Ziglar’s 30 books so when something is down in
print I immediately know what I want to say or how I’d say it differently. It
makes for a great jump start. Of course it helps that my husband knows what I
want to write about on any project that I do. He has been a ghost writer for
many years now.

Tell us about the
featured book.

I wrote my book, Growing Up Ziglar: A Daughter’s Broken
Journey from Heartache to Hope, to encourage women who have deemed
themselves unusable by God; for women who have not been able to forgive
themselves for their past even though they intellectually know that God has
forgiven them and for women who want to get beyond self and serve God fully. It
is my hope that women who read my book will see how knowing God’s Word
personally and intimately will give them an instruction manual for living a
life of peace, contentment and victory. I want women to know and understand
that their lives are none of their business and that learning how to be
available, willing and obedient to do what God puts before them to do will make
them incredibly free. I want Christian women who hide the wrong they once did to
know that they are in bondage still! When we know and accept that we are
forgiven there is no more shame, only gratitude and relief and the desire to
help others know the truth of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. I believe the purpose God
has given me is wrapped up in those verses: “Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who
are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by
God.” NKJV It is my prayer that women will be comforted when they read my book
and that they will come to KNOW, really KNOW, their Lord and Savior and the
plans He has for them.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Chapter One

Available, Willing, and Obedient

The Command I Couldn’t Ignore

That Sunday morning in the waning
days of the summer of 2005 started out like so many others. Six years earlier,
my husband Jim and I had moved from the bustling suburbs of the Dallas/Ft.
Worth Metroplex to the sleepy little town of Alvord,
Texas. It had
taken some time and lots of visiting, but we’d found a church we loved, and we
treasured all thirty of the regular attendees. We enjoyed knowing, reallyknowing, everyone in the fellowship so it didn’t seem unusual when my
friend Missy pulled me aside as soon as we walked into the church foyer.

It was unusual when Missy began telling me about a dream
she’d had the night before. Our church would be considered conservative by
most, and what I was about to hear was not an ordinary discussion - even among
our most colorful attendees

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Linda Kish (CA) is the winner of Stardust by Carla Stewart.Janet Kerr (Canada) is the winner of After All by Deborah Raney.Angela Holland (FL) is the winner of Hearts That Survive,fromYvonne Lehman.Ali(NY) is the winner of Mary's Blessing by Lena Nelson Dooley.Trella (WA) is the winner of Where Lilacs Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick.Cheryl (IL)is the winner of Wish You Were Hereby Beth K Vogt.

In honor of Maggie's Journey, the first book in my McKenna's Daughters series, winning the Selah Award at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference this week, I'm choosing another winner for Mary's Blessing. It's flghtlss (NC)If you won a book and you really like it, consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites.

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the individual interview. By using that link when you order, you will help support this blog.

Friday, May 25, 2012

I’m thrilled to have
Darrel Nelson on my blog today. I was privileged to read the manuscript for
endorsement, and I loved it. I think you will, too. Welcome, Darrel. Tell us
how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I suspect most authors put a bit of themselves into each of
their characters, good or bad. Imagination allows us to magnify the good and
bad traits in ourselves and project them into our characters. But, naturally,
our good characters take after our personal good traits as the author, while
the bad characters are solely based on our imagined
bad traits . . . right?

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

The word “quirky” covers a wide range of possibilities. But
I would have to say that eating peanuts, shell and all, might qualify. Someone
introduced me to this practice years ago, and I tried it and liked it. So when
I go to Texas Roadhouse or some other restaurant that serves bulk peanuts in
the shell as an appetizer, I pop the whole peanut in my mouth, shell and all,
and chew to my heart’s content. Talk about fiber! (Disclaimer: No one else I’ve
talked into trying it likes it. Just sayin’.)

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

I began writing stories when I was about ten years old. It
seemed a natural thing to pick up a paper and pencil and write adventure
stories. I read all the Tarzan books I could get my hands on, and so my early
stories were jungle adventures. Later, I got into science fiction and so I left
the steaming jungles of Africa for the outer
realms of the galaxy. I created a character named Zip Carter, and, boy, did he
have some exciting, far-out adventures. I have no idea where those early
stories ever got to, but would it ever be a laugh to read them now.

Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I still haven’t figured out how I went from reading jungle
adventures and outer space adventures to reading romantic fiction, but
somewhere along the line I discovered that I liked reading stories about
relationships, particularly love stories. I love the books of Nicholas Sparks
and Charles Martin, both of whom write in the style I enjoy myself. Also, I
love John Grisham’s courtroom drama novels. I’ve read them all, too.

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

I wish I could answer that, but l have already lost my
sanity. I mean, I’m trying to break into the writing business, right? Okay,
seriously, there are several things that have helped me. First of all, I have a
wonderful and supportive wife and family (including ten adorable grandchildren)
who mean the world to me. They help keep me grounded. Secondly, we are active
in our church and believe that with the Lord’s help we can endure and rise
above the trials of life. Third, I have been a schoolteacher for thirty-seven
years, and being around the innocence and vitality of children all those years has
helped maintain my faith in humanity.

How do you choose
your characters’ names?

At first I pull the names out of a hat (not literally) and
begin fleshing out their characters. As the story progresses, I might change my
mind on a character’s name. For example, in The Anniversary Waltz,
“Adam” was originally named “Shem.” But as the book progressed, the name Adam
seemed to suit the character better. I know it sounds like I have a thing for Bible
names—I mean, the main female character is named Elizabeth—but not really. I settled on names
that seemed to “ring true” to the character. But here’s the funny thing. In
real life, I have a nephew named Adam and a niece named Elizabeth.

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Convincing my wife to marry me. And that is an
accomplishment considering what a shy guy I was. Still am.

If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?

In both of my novels I include a scene where a bird (hawk
and eagle respectively) is soaring gracefully through the air. So I suppose I
would choose to be a hawk or an eagle. There is something about its freedom of flight,
the majesty of its outstretched wings, the solitude of being (as described in
my second novel) “a beauty mark on the face of heaven” that is appealing to me.
Plus, as a boy I read every Superman comic book on the face of the earth and
dreamed about being able to FLY.

What is your favorite
food?

I love Canadian Chinese food. Wait . . . Canadian
Chinese food, you say? Yep. Chinese food that’s served right here in good old Canada. It’s a
little different than American Chinese food—I don’t know, they must use a
different recipe or something. I only know that my family loves it, and my
children who live in the States always request, when they back to Canada to visit,
that we all go out for genuine, authentic Canadian Chinese food.

What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My main problem can be summarized in three little letters:
POV. That’s Point of View. I’ve driven my editor crazy with how I get into the
head of each of my characters and share their thoughts and feelings freely,
often in the same scene. I write in a stream of consciousness mode, and this
poses a problem for the reader. It tends to give a “shotgun blast” of
information instead of a pinpoint that allows the information to be unfolded
incrementally.

I have tried to overcome this roadblock by keeping a piece
of paper beside of my computer that lists the chapter number and the POV from
which it’s told. As I write, I remind myself to focus on who’s telling the
story and to be aware of not climbing inside another character’s head. I read
each completed chapter about a hundred times to check it over, and then move
on. When I go back and reread the book later, I still find places where I have
been inconsistent. So the bottom line is—I’m improving in this area, but I still
have a long way to go. It’s a tricky technique to master, I’ll tell you that. But
that’s just my POV.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

PROLOGUE

October 2006

“Would you do me the honor, Miss?”

Adam Carlson stood beside his wife, Elizabeth, who was still
seated at the dining room table. He presented her with a single white rose,
which he brought out from behind his back. She held the flower close in order
to savor its sweet fragrance. Adam extended a wrinkled hand and looked at her
expectantly, the question lingering in his smile.

Elizabeth
laughed lightly and put the rose on the table beside her plate, pausing to
smooth down her white hair and adjust the two-strand pearl necklace around her
slender neck. She placed her hand in his, and together they walked slowly into
the living room, followed by family members, who gathered around the perimeter
of the area rug.

The living room was decorated especially for the occasion. A
banner that read HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
stretched above the doorway, and crepe streamers hung from the center of the
ceiling, radiating to the corners of the room like the spokes of a wheel. Balloons
were taped to the walls in clusters, and below each cluster was a hand-drawn
picture that showed two stick figures holding hands, with the words GREAT-GRANDMA LOVES GREAT-GRANDPA
printed across the bottom in irregular block letters. A brass floor lamp stood
in the far corner, casting a warm glow throughout the room. A floral
arrangement in a ceramic vase sat on the fireplace mantel, and a small pennant
that was attached to a thin wooden stick protruded from the leaves and bore the
message HAPPY 60th, written in
glitter paint. A photograph in an old picture frame of Adam and Elizabeth on
their wedding day sat on the coffee table, and an album containing photographs
of past anniversaries lay open beside it.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Thursday, May 24, 2012

I'm thrilled to have my friend, Tracey Bateman, back with us. Welcome, Tracey. Tell us about your
salvation experience.

I was five when I decided I better ask Jesus into my heart.
But it was mainly because my best friend was getting baptized and got all the
attention. When I was eight, I had an experience with God where I realized I
was a sinner and that Jesus had died for me. I spent hours on my mother’s
bedroom floor crying and repenting for my sins. That was the day I truly
believe I was saved.

You’re planning a
writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be
and why?

Susan May Warren—Because
she knows more about the craft of writing than anyone I know.

Rachel Hauck—because not only does she know writing, she knows
God and I love the way He oozes from her when she speaks about anything, but
writing in particular. Plus, she has the coolest way of phrasing things of
anyone I know. I could listen to her read the phone book and be inspired.

James Scott Bell—Because he’s funny and smart and knows
exactly what he wants to say and communicates it effectively.

Colleen Coble—Because she is the biggest encourager I know,
and I think more than “technique” new writers, in particular, just need
encouragement to keep on.

I’d want to sneak
into that retreat. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Not really. I do speak on occasion, sometimes about writing,
sometimes about life and God. They are few and far between, but lately, the
doors seem to be opening more. Not sure what God has planned, but “YES” to
whatever He asks me to do. Lord, send me…

People are always
telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you,
too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

Usually, I get more information. What sort of book? And that
opens a dialogue. You can center people pretty quickly and if they’re just
thinking one day they might write a book about a life experience, I encourage
them to journal and flex their writing muscles that way. If they have an idea
for a fiction book and just need the courage or a little nudge in the right
direction, I usually point them to ACFW or My Book Therapy, plus I encourage
them to sit down and just write.

Tell us about the
featured book.

Corrie
Saunders’ journey begins with deep, heart-wrecking grief. She’ll do anything
for one more moment with the man she loved and lost. As the story evolves she
must come to understand that God’s ways are always higher and the enemy of her
soul has one focus in mind where she is concerned: to separate her from the
love of God and take her down a path of destruction. But for God…

It’s
a love story with a supernatural tilt to it. My response to the lies blasted
onto the airways with Ghosthunters and other shows that promote what God forbids:
speaking to the “dead.”

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Prologue

An easy spring wind blew through my open Jeep, lifting my hair and
ruffling the cloth seat covers as I turned off the interstate and traveled east
toward Saunders Creek. It was the last leg of my nine-hour drive from Dallas to
the tiny, unassuming Ozarks town that bore my husband’s family name.

Towering oaks, full maples, and evergreens hugged the narrow, winding
road in a way that even a few months ago might have felt intrusive. But today
the trees seemed to embrace me, welcoming me.

Déjà vu came over me, as though the scene before me came out of my own
childhood memories instead of recollections of stories my husband told about
growing up here.

I wanted him beside me, flashing his Top Gun Maverick grin. Jarrod had
died the way he lived—reckless, but heroic. Saving at least fifty lives in a
little Iraqi settlement on the east bank of the Tigris River. Leaving me to
pine after him, sick with love for a man who would never hold me again. I
couldn’t breathe. God, just take me too. But every day my eyes opened, air
filled my lungs, and I forced myself to go on.

Six months ago, I buried him according to his wishes, in the Saunders
family graveyard. After the funeral, my mother demanded that I return home to
Dallas to grieve—as though I could just put the last seven years behind me and
move on. Forget the consuming, crazy, once-in-a-lifetime love who had rescued
me from her in the first place. Every night since then I had dreamed of my
husband’s childhood home. A force compelled me to come here, and I couldn’t
ignore it any longer.

Jarrod was gone, but as I drove my Jeep up the path that led to the
two-story farmhouse, I finally understood why I had been so drawn to this place.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Readers, I was privileged to read this manuscript for endorsement. I loved the book, and I believe you will, too.

Welcome, Diane and Aaron. Why do you write the
kind of books you do?

Diane – Writing historical novels is interesting because of
all the history I learn from the research. I enjoyed reading Regency romances
as a teenager, so writing historicals now is not too much of a stretch.

Aaron – I fell in love with Christian historical fiction
after reading The Honorable Imposter
by Gilbert Morris. I was thrilled to see this type of novel with the added bonus
of glorifying the Lord. I am blessed that God allows me to use the talents He
has given to continue to write these types of books.

Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Diane – My wedding day. I am so lucky to have met and
married Gene. He is a special gift from God.

Aaron – I have been blessed with many, so I’ll just choose
the day I received my first book contract. What a special feeling!

How has being
published changed your life?

Diane – It has helped me understand the industry better. Having
the extra income is also allowing me to retire from my day job this summer so I
can spend more time writing.

Aaron – I have met so many wonderful people who have added
so many things to my life and blessed me in so many ways.

What are you reading
right now?

Diane - Book of Days
by James L. Rubart.

Aaron – I am reading The
River Queen by Gilbert Morris.

What is your current
work in progress?

We are currently working on book three, Jasmine, in our “Song of the River” series.

Aaron – Visiting a historical site like an old home or
attending some writers’ or Christian publishing event. I love being with like-minded
people who love to talk “book” shop.

How do you choose
your settings for each book?

Diane – The settings for our current series seemed to flow
naturally from the story ideas.

Aaron – They usually come with the idea for a story as Diane
said. I tend to choose that from eras and events in history that capture my
interest and which, I believe, will capture the interests of our readers.

If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Diane - Frank Peretti. His books changed my view of reality
and the spiritual realm. I would love to talk to him about his ideas, beliefs,
and his newest book.

Aaron – Wow, what an interesting question. I would like to
spend some time with George W. Bush. I admire him for his positions on issues
like gay marriage and abortion when many were opposed to his conservative
morality.

What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Diane – Surf-fishing, looking at real estate, traveling.

Aaron – You mean there are other things to do besides
those?! Just kidding. I enjoy spending evenings with friends and watching
classic movies.

What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Diane – By the time I’m at the end of a
project, I feel it is absolutely the worst story ever written. I send it to
Aaron for edits, knowing in my heart he is going to call and confirm my fears.
Prayer and trust in God’s provision are the only solutions.

Aaron – Finding the time to juggle my jobs of teaching and
editing along with the writing is a problem at times. Scheduling my projects
and an understanding and supportive co-author help through the especially busy
times.

What advice would you
give to a beginning author?

Diane – Be patient. My brother often teases me about my
“overnight” success, as he knows I wrote for about ten years before getting
that contract. God has given you this dream of writing for a purpose…His
purpose. He will help you fulfill that purpose if you trust Him.

Aaron – Amen to that. I will add a couple of things. Attend
writers’ conferences and read, read, read in your chosen genre.

Tell us about the
featured book.

From the back of the book:

In 1859 Natchez,
Mississippi, Lily Anderson is
determined to thwart a marriage of convenience. She embarks on a riverboat venture
to keep her and her two sisters afloat financially. But gambler Blake Matthews
has won part ownership of Lily’s riverboat. How will their business profit if
he and the feisty Mississippi
miss disagree about almost everything? The affluent Jean Luc Champney will do
anything to get back what he lost in a card game, including wooing and
endangering the pretty new owner. Will the siren song of the river evolve into
a serenade or a somber lament?

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Lily Anderson watched the passing scenery from the comfort
of her uncle’s carriage. Stately mansions with manicured grounds gave way to
the smaller, sturdy homes of local merchants as they traveled toward the Mississippi River. They passed a busy mercantile and
several shops before the carriage took a sharp leftward downturn toward the
raucous, bustling dock that lay far beneath the genteel residences of Natchez’s
wealthy plantation owners and merchants.

Natchez
Under-the-Hill. She sniffed the air appreciatively as she disembarked, picking
up the scents of fresh coffee, burning wood, and fish. How she loved the river.
She barely noticed the disreputable, rickety inns and saloons that sprouted
like weeds on either side of the winding road called Silver Street.

Roustabouts slumbered in the scant shade of the ramshackle
buildings while a pair of glassy-eyed Indians staggered down the street, each
clutching a brown bottle close to his chest. Lily’s eyes widened at their
blatant drunkenness, but their presence did not deter her eagerness to absorb
every detail of her surroundings as she followed Aunt Dahlia.

Voices shouted in an exciting mix of languages. She wondered
how many countries were represented in this one place. . .English, French,
German, and even lilting Norwegian dialects. The latter brought disturbing
memories, but Lily pushed them away, determined to enjoy her outing on the Mississippi River.

As she and her aunt picked their way past bales of cotton
and barrels of tobacco, her gaze absorbed the myriad boats lining the banks.
Rugged keelboats and waterlogged rafts butted up against lofty steamboats, each
awaiting cargo or passengers to be floated down the river to the port of New Orleans.

Thank you so much for sharing your lives and your wonderful book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Lily (Song of the River) - paperbackLily - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com